By Railfan & Railroad Staff

NEW YORK — Catherine Rinaldi, president of Metro-North, has been named the interim president of the Long Island Rail Road, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this week. Rinaldi has been president of Metro-North since 2018 and starting Feb. 26, will begin overseeing both railroads. 

Rinaldi is replacing Phillip Eng, who was president of the LIRR for four years. Rinaldi grew up in Huntington, Long Island, and previously served as Vice President and General Counsel at the Long Island Rail Road from 2008 to 2011. 

“Cathy Rinaldi is a proven leader with nearly twenty years of experience at the MTA, having served in leadership positions at headquarters and both commuter railroads,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “At Metro-North, she has led efforts to improve system reliability, achieve excellent customer service, and continue the intensive infrastructure work essential to maintaining system safety. She has great relations with labor, has the respect of her staff and puts the customer first. Phil has done an incredible job as President of the LIRR, strengthening operations through the LIRR Forward Plan and overseeing historic infrastructure investments like East Side Access and Third Track – all the while navigating a once-in-a-century crisis with COVID.”